Gilda “Jill” Hernandez

Gilda “Jill” Hernandez is the founder of GILD A. HERNANDEZ, PLLC, a law firm dedicated exclusively to representing employees in wage and hour disputes throughout North Carolina. She is known for her tenacious advocacy, deep subject-matter knowledge, and long-standing commitment to protecting workers’ rights in complex employment matters.

Jill earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois at Chicago and her Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of Law. Fluent in Spanish, she effectively represents and advocates for a broad range of clients throughout North Carolina.

Jill brings nearly three decades of experience in wage and hour law, beginning her career as a government official with the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. In that role, she conducted extensive investigations, enforced federal labor standards, and worked directly with employers to ensure compliance with wage-and-hour and employment-eligibility laws.

After transitioning into private practice, Jill expanded her impact by litigating complex civil employment cases. Her experience includes representing thousands of employees in large-scale wage-and-hour class and collective actions. Before founding her firm, she built a successful wage-and-hour practice from the ground up at a mid-sized Raleigh law firm.

Jill’s current practice focuses on representing individual employees and groups in collective and class action litigation involving violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the North Carolina Wage and Hour Act, and comparable state laws. Media outlets frequently seek out Hernandez for her insight on wage and hour issues affecting workers across diverse industries.

Gilda “Jill” Hernandez has received professional recognition for her work, including being named a North Carolina “Rising Star” in Employment and Labor Law by Super Lawyers and being recognized by Charlotte Magazine as one of North Carolina’s Outstanding Young Lawyers in the same practice area. These honors reflect her skill, dedication, and growing influence in employment litigation.

Law Office Affiliations

• Founder, The Law Offices of Gilda A. Hernandez, PLLC
• Member, North Carolina Bar Association
• Member, National Employment Lawyers Association
• Member, National Employment Law Project
• Member, Tenth Judicial District Bar

Licensed State

• North Carolina

Education

• Southwestern University School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Illinois, Chicago
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges